War dead dishonoured at Arlington cemetry
The national cemetry at Arlington has graves of the brave soldiers and two Presidents of the United States. A bungling of record of graves has didhonoured the dead.
HOW ELSE can a man die better than facing fearful odds; for the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his Gods - indeed the ballad for the brave was sung and resung all over the world from Greece to Ganarajya of Bharat. The song enthused the youth to become Sons of the brave. The nation honoured the soldier-patriots, both the living and the dead. In any case, the nation pays homage to the sons of the brave even now.
MISMARKED AND MISSING GRAVES
The American people, nay the people of the free world were shocked one fine morning that the record of the graves at the Arlington National Cemetry were grossly mismanaged by the superintendent and the caretakers. Some graves were missing and some were mismarked. Complaints galore came from relatives and loved ones of the war dead because they could not locate the graves when they went there to offer flowers as a mark of rememberance.
On top of that some urns were dug out from unused spaces and dumped again as no one could tell whose ashes lay there. Indeed it was a case of gross mismanagement.
The Secretary of the Army, equivalent to a Minister in India, ordered an enquiry and found that the mismanagement was a chronic one. The Superintendent and managers were put on retirement notice. The Army Secretary said that there was no criminal intent but mere mismanagement. So, no criminal proceedings will be initiated.
ARCHAIC SYSTEM OF RECORD
In quite a few cases, the information about the fallen heroes were kept on ordinary cards that were liable to be lost. The simple but dignified tombstones were moved here and there at will without caring ofor decorum or decency. It was sheer callousness. Apparently no one in authority was present when the labourers did the routine maintenance work. They played with the honour of the war dead and made a travesty of truth.
The feeling of hurt of the surviving loved ones of the fallen heroes just cannot be fathomed. Although the Army Secretary has tendered an apology to the Nation and to the members of the family of the national heroes but that is not enough. Refrettably what has been done cannot be undone now. One may offer flowers at an urn imagining that it contains ashes of the near and dear who sacrificed his life for the cause of the country.
TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN
Many countries that fought wars and lost men and women in battles but could not provide them a final resting place or perform ANTIM SANSKAR or the last rites for various reasons are honoured collectively by raising a Memorial to the Unknown -he or she may be a soldier, a sailor, an airman or a civilian. Those who died for the country are honoured by the King or the Queen and the Commoner alike on the remembrance Day. It is a solemn occasion and many shed tears as they are moved emotionally.
HOMAGE TO AMAR JAWAN
In Bharat on the Republic Day, the Prime Minister leads the nation in paying homage to the AMAR JAWAN who made the supreme sacrifice to defend the nation. No names are read or announced. There were thousands who fell in battles but could not be cremated or buried with military honours. In many cases their dead bodies were not found or could not be recovered despite best efforts. To the country they are the IMMORTAL SOLDIER or the AMAR JAWAN. They are the brave men who made the supreme sacrifice so that the Nation lives on. They died so that their children and children's children live and breathe air of freedom.
Let us honour our War Dead by recognising their valour and sacrifice and paying homage to them at least once a year. Let the ceremony be lead by the highest constitutional functionary of the country, the President or the Prime Minister so that the youth imbibe its importance and prepare themselves physically and mentally to make the supreme sacrifice for the Nation.
O AMAR JAWAN! you shall live as long as the NATION LIVES.
On top of that some urns were dug out from unused spaces and dumped again as no one could tell whose ashes lay there. Indeed it was a case of gross mismanagement.
The Secretary of the Army, equivalent to a Minister in India, ordered an enquiry and found that the mismanagement was a chronic one. The Superintendent and managers were put on retirement notice. The Army Secretary said that there was no criminal intent but mere mismanagement. So, no criminal proceedings will be initiated.
ARCHAIC SYSTEM OF RECORD
In quite a few cases, the information about the fallen heroes were kept on ordinary cards that were liable to be lost. The simple but dignified tombstones were moved here and there at will without caring ofor decorum or decency. It was sheer callousness. Apparently no one in authority was present when the labourers did the routine maintenance work. They played with the honour of the war dead and made a travesty of truth.
The feeling of hurt of the surviving loved ones of the fallen heroes just cannot be fathomed. Although the Army Secretary has tendered an apology to the Nation and to the members of the family of the national heroes but that is not enough. Refrettably what has been done cannot be undone now. One may offer flowers at an urn imagining that it contains ashes of the near and dear who sacrificed his life for the cause of the country.
TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN
Many countries that fought wars and lost men and women in battles but could not provide them a final resting place or perform ANTIM SANSKAR or the last rites for various reasons are honoured collectively by raising a Memorial to the Unknown -he or she may be a soldier, a sailor, an airman or a civilian. Those who died for the country are honoured by the King or the Queen and the Commoner alike on the remembrance Day. It is a solemn occasion and many shed tears as they are moved emotionally.
HOMAGE TO AMAR JAWAN
In Bharat on the Republic Day, the Prime Minister leads the nation in paying homage to the AMAR JAWAN who made the supreme sacrifice to defend the nation. No names are read or announced. There were thousands who fell in battles but could not be cremated or buried with military honours. In many cases their dead bodies were not found or could not be recovered despite best efforts. To the country they are the IMMORTAL SOLDIER or the AMAR JAWAN. They are the brave men who made the supreme sacrifice so that the Nation lives on. They died so that their children and children's children live and breathe air of freedom.
Let us honour our War Dead by recognising their valour and sacrifice and paying homage to them at least once a year. Let the ceremony be lead by the highest constitutional functionary of the country, the President or the Prime Minister so that the youth imbibe its importance and prepare themselves physically and mentally to make the supreme sacrifice for the Nation.
O AMAR JAWAN! you shall live as long as the NATION LIVES.
 | Previous Post |
Login
 Login through Social ID
|
Not finding what you are looking for? Search here.
